Eaglet's First Flight... in a Plane! Kestrel updates & Northern Harrier Video!

- High Speed Migration -

 REGI transporter? You 'betcha!

We are very lucky at REGI to have such a trustworthy batch of volunteer transporters! Our list stretches from the Milwaukee area to Minocqua, and we couldn't do it without every single one of them! This time of year, their phones are ringing off the hook with calls about injured birds and orphaned babies. It's not out of the ordinary for them to pick up several birds for us on their journey to REGI.

Our team meets Dave Piehler our transporter pilot!

This week, the interns learned that transport comes in all shapes and sizes. I'm not just talking about 2-door sports cars to the family friendly mini-van... I'm talking about the flying variety... with props and landing gear!!

Molly, Alyssa, Sarah, Aysegul, Dave P., Marge, Maddie, & Don with the new eagle patient

Dave P., Marge, and the patient

This isn't the first baby eagle of the season, although I'm sure he has had the fastest flight of the lot. Although he came to REGI a starving young eaglet, right now his future looks bright! You may have noticed a theme with this year's patient eaglets. Emaciation (an extremely critical starvation), can happen for many reasons in the wild. Sometimes it's a health condition. Sometimes the stronger babies push their way into getting more food from the parents. Sometimes weak individuals are discarded by their parents. This is what makes animal rehabilitation so difficult. They can't open their mouths to explain their symptoms... we are left to make educated guesses based on history and research.

- PATIENT UPDATE -

Several of REGI's babies this summer are lucky enough to have foster parents. Species making the list are bald eagles, American kestrels, Eastern phoebes, American robins, crows, bluebirds, and many more.

 Bald Eagle foster dad & female eaglet

 

This male Bald Eagle is a foster parent to three young kiddos this summer. A huge part of being a foster parent is teaching the young ones what the different vocalizations mean. So far, it seems that the eaglets only know the food begging call!

American kestrels fostered by an education kestrel female

These American kestrels have graced our blog several times now, but this is the first time you've seen them outside! They are getting SO big! Our female education kestrel is making a great foster mom for 4 fledglings!

 Northern harrier baby admitted tonight

 Feeding the Northern Harrier
You can see the crop (located on his neck) get bigger and bigger as it fills with food!

This little guy came to us from the Marshfield area. Many people don't realize that not all hawks nest in trees! Northern Harriers (Marsh Hawks) nest in fields! Often times, the fields that provide the best cover for their nests are farmer's hay fields. This little guy's nest was run over by a baler. Unfortunately his siblings weren't as lucky as he is, but he's a fight

 Molly McKay, REGI's education director, and intern Alyssa Z. at the turkey vulture portion of the tour

Thanks so much to the Natural Resource Foundation for coming out today! It was hot, sunny, and information packed! This photo was taken during the turkey vulture portion of the tour. Many people find turkey vultures to be disgusting creatures because of what they eat (dead stuff)... but here at REGI we see vultures in a much different light!

This week we said happy birthday to intern Sarah! Look at those candles!

Enjoy they rest of your weekend... and keep your eyes peeled for injured wildlife over the 4th of July week. Fireworks are beautiful, but they have a tendency to create various issues in the world of wildlife!!

- Katie Rymer, Assistant Avian Rehabilitator

Summer Patient Update

Hello everyone!  Everything is in full swing here at REGI with patients coming and going and lots of changes happening.  Some of you have been calling hoping to join us on tours but we have had to delay tours for a short time due to the weather and construction.  We are hoping to have everything up and running again starting next week.

A Willow Tree is cleaned up after high winds brought it down in a storm.

We had a round of severe storms sweep through the area last week and are still in the process of cleaning up.  Above you can see our beloved Weeping Willow that gave shelter to many visitors and provided food to many birds being cleaned up after falling in the storm.  This tree was a special place for a releasing many songbirds where they can slowly readjust to being back in the wild while eating from the plentiful feeders.  The Willow was one of many trees that came down around REGI and we are sad to see it go.

Construction workers frame the newest building on the REGI property.

One of the other causes of delay to our tours is a construction project.  Our original REGI building and enclosures, which we called the "Middle Mews", has been torn down and is in the process of being replaced with a new building.  The "Middle Mews" had been at REGI since it's inception in 1990 and were showing serious signs of age.   The new building will house more birds and provide more space for some of our larger raptors.  We will keep you updated at the building process comes along.

A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird perches atop her feeder.

This beautiful female Ruby-throated Hummingbird (above) came in suffering from what we suspect to be chemical poisoning.  Herbicide and pesticide use in yards affects wildlife and can be fatal, although many people don't realize the dangers.  Fortunately she seems to be recovering from the neurological effects of the chemicals and we anticipate her release in the near future.  You can often hear her humming in her enclosure as she exercises her wings.

Fluffy American Kestrel chicks are among REGI's many orphans this summer.

Do you recognize the two little American Kestrel chicks (above) from our blog two weeks ago?  They were still tiny balls of fluff but growing rapidly.

Female Kestrel fledgling intently watches the camera.

A young Kestrel already displays the beautiful blue of a male on his wings.

They have already reached their adult sizes and are now gaining their adult plumage although you can still tell they are juveniles by the downy fluff surrounding them, particularly on their heads (see above.)  When you last met them we were just beginning to see the markings that tell us if they are male or female and now it is quite clear.  The Kestrel in the top photo has reddish brown and black barring all across her wings brown streaking on her chest which tell us that she is a female, while the Kestrel on the bottom has blueish gray wings with a lighter smoother chest and black markings telling us that he is a male. 

Northern Flicker preparing for release.

This Northern Flicker (above) came in along with his siblings when their nesting tree came down earlier in the summer.  They were completely naked and the size of a thumb each.  He was recently released and can still be seen hanging around the REGI neighborhood.  You can see the yellow feather shafts on his wings which is indicative of an Eastern bird, Western flickers have red feather shafts on the wings.

A juvenile Bald Eagle joins his new foster father .

Our ever faithful foster Bald Eagle has his first baby of the year (above.)  The eaglet that you met in the last blog has graduated to the flight building and is ready for the care of a foster parent.  Our foster Eagle will care for the young eaglet and show him the ropes as he finished his recovery.  So far the chances for a future release are looking good.

Intern, Kerry McVey, holds a Bald Eaglet in preparation for a feeding.

This young Eagle (above) came in weak and starving at the incredibly low weight of four pounds.  Birds suffering from starvation need to be gradually weaned onto solid foods and must be tube fed for a long period of time.  While the road to recovery will be long for this bird we are feeling hopeful.  He has gained two pounds so far and is continuing to grow.

So, the clinic is packed and we are ever busy!  There are many summer programs coming up in the next weeks.  Keep your eyes on the REGI website events page to follow our events.

Molly McKay
Director of Education

A Very Birdy Baby Shower & Meet the Interns

Greetings everyone! 

It's been a while since the last blog, and boy, have we had our hands full... of babies! Patients are pouring in left and right, we're quickly approaching our 200th patient of the year, and it's only the middle of June!

Patient Update

We are knee-deep into baby season here at REGI. The early warm weather stirred up some love bugs in the air, and nestlings and fledglings of numerous species have found their ways into REGI's clinic. Wood ducks, Eastern pheobes, robins, flickers, barred owls, great horned owls, and a bald eagle have already graced REGI's clinic... and we still have a lot of summer left.

(These American kestrel nestling siblings are some of REGI's newest patients)

These American kestrel nestlings are some of REGI's most recent patients. This brother and sister pair are rapidly growing nestlings. Just like a younger human child, these nestlings are too young to leave the nest, and are still being watched closely by their parents. Although they look white and fluffy now, make no mistake, someday they will be big, tough raptor parents!

(American kestrel fledgling who's first flight ended in a manure pile)

This American kestrel fledgling was born several days before the nestlings shown above. Ready for her first flying debut, she was in the process of leaving her nest for the first time and landed into a pile of manure. It wasn't the most graceful first flight, but her prognosis is great (only a little smelly), and is headed home soon!

Baby Bird Shower

This Saturday (6/16) is our Wild Birds Unlimited Baby Bird Shower in Wausau, WI. There is a playpen in the store set up for donations to our baby birds! REGI's very own education birds will be making a special appearance at 1:00pm! Wild Birds Unlimited's continuous support for REGI continues to inspire our staff and save our patients lives. Join us this weekend and receive a $15 Wild Birds Unlimited gift card with every $20 donation to REGI's baby birds! How neat is that! Below is our ever-changing wish list, add to that some used children's toys... our crows are always looking for new enrichment opportunities.

Meet the Interns

Our interns are well into their third week of a crash course in avian rehabilitation, ecology, biology, and education. Here at REGI, we welcome interns with open arms, and this year is no exception. This summer we are joined by 5 interns and a wildlife veterinarian from Turkey! Interns and volunteers are a HUGE help to REGI. Babies in the clinic are fed every 20 minutes from sun-up to sun-down, and this would be nearly impossible without the help of our great team of interns! Now's the chance for you to get to know our interns, I'm sure they will be gracing the blog several times within the next couple of months.

(Maddie is holding REGI's education harris's hawk, both are California girls!)

Maddie

Hometown: Lafayette, CA

College: Humboldt State University, CA

Degree: Wildlife management and conservation, focusing in ornithology

Why a REGI internship? Eventually, I would like to be a wildlife rehabilitator focusing on avian species.

Favorite part of REGI so far? Watching the babies growing up before our eyes, and knowing that I have a huge impact on their livelihood 

What bird would you be? Why? Peregrine falcon, I think it'd be great to be considered the fastest animal on the planet, it'd be an honor!

Favorite childhood toy? The stilts! I was up on stilts by age 6, and was able to attend a circus school for a summer!

(Molly is holding REGI's education barn owl)

Molly

Hometown: Hortonville, WI

College: University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, WI

Degree: Wildlife ecology & biology, minor in captive wildlife management

Why a REGI internship? I'd love to someday be a wildlife rehabilitator, and this seemed like a great, hands-on place to get some experience!

Favorite part of REGI so far? Working up close with so many different species of birds.

What bird would you be? Why? Puffin, they just seem to live in some pretty awesome places!

What is your favorite childhood cartoon? Bugs Bunny, it's the best cartoon ever!

(Sarah is holding REGI's education dark-morph, rough-legged hawk)

Sarah

Hometown: Shoreview, MN

College: University of Minnesota, MN

Degree: Fisheries and wildlife, pre-veterinary and wildlife emphasis

Why a REGI internship? I was looking to make a difference in my internship and REGI seemed like a wonderful place to do that.

Favorite part of REGI so far? Handling the education birds and being so close to the wild patients.

What bird would you be? Why? Barn owl, I'd love to be able to scare people into thinking I was a ghost! 

What would I find in your refrigerator right now? Leftover mac n' cheese and pretzels. Yum!

(Alyssa is holding one of REGI's education turkey vultures)

Alyssa

Hometown: Wauwatosa, WI

College: University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, WI

Degree: Wildlife research and management, captive wildlife management minor

Why a REGI internship? I have always wanted to work with animals, and I have heard great things about REGI from all of my college professors. It's also just awesome.

Favorite part of REGI so far? Watching the patients from admission to release. Each of their stories are so different and compelling. I've also enjoyed bonding with my fellow "intern shipmates".

What bird would you be? Why? Penguin, they are always dressed so classy.

What is your favorite color of clinic gloves? Bright purple!

(Kerry is holding one of REGI's great-horned owls)

Kerry

Hometown: Antigo, WI

College: University of Wisconsin Green Bay, WI

Degree: Biology

Why a REGI internship? I'd like to keep my options open in the future, and I spent time as a volunteer last year!

Favorite part of REGI so far? Watching the baby birds grow everyday!

What bird would you be? Why? Goldfinch, they are just so beautiful, light up any bird feeder, and everyone could hear my song!

What is your favorite color? Yellow, it's the color of the sunshine (and goldfinches oddly enough!).

(Aysegul is holding one of REGI's education red-tailed hawks)

Aysegul

Hometown: Ankara, Turkey

College: Istanbul University, Turkey

Degree: Veterinary 

Why come oversees to REGI? Experience wildlife rehabilitation up close and personal with all of the birds, I hope to learn techniques to continue my wildlife veterinary positions in Turkey.

Favorite part of REGI so far? Treating all of the injured birds.

What bird would you be? Why? Kestrel, they are so cute, yet so wild.

What do you miss most about home? My boyfriend, I am only able to talk to him for a few minutes every day.

I hope to see you all in Wausau, WI this Saturday at 1:00pm to come meet our education birds! Bring some Kleenex, kids toys, or meaty Gerber baby food (no ham please)! The birds thank you!

Stay tuned to the blog for more updates, and enjoy the summer heat wave for us, we've been in frost advisories the past several nights.

Katie Rymer

Assistant Avian Rehabilitator

Update on Lead Poisoned Bald Eagles, American Kestrel Admitted



#005 today. Note the green colored mutes on the blanket behind her ( rt)  That green color is a signature color of a lead poisoned bird.



It was a quieter day today. Knowing what you have in the clinic is somehow easier than being surprised by critical cases. It was refreshing to find the Downy Woodpecker doing so well he was able to be in the outside aviary.  The American Goldfinch was singing today even as he recovers from his cat caused injuries.  His happy song put some perspective on the day.

The male #007 is doing better. He is not longer hypersensitive to stimulus, his seizures have stopped. He was given his injections today sub-Q in the chest to try to save the legs for future days. The injections of Ca -EDTA is destructive to body tissue, so we are careful to alternate sites. Both eagles need 2 a day for the first four days and then four days off. The time off is so the blood can circulate through the bones, where lead is stored, to integrate it into the blood again. Lead is chelated from the blood and that is how it works. It is an arduous process at best.
#007 even ate some muskrat today on his own. That was a surprise, but we tube fed him anyhow as he remains dehydrated. His lead level is still sky high so many things can still go wrong within the next few weeks. Lead poisoning can cause multi-organ failure and often does. We have learned to take the good with the bad and are cautiously optimistic for #007 while being vigilant for signs of problems.

The female #005 did not have a good day. She has developed cardiac failure. We worked hard with her today, hoping against hope that we can correct the heart issue. That can and has happened in past cases, but it is discouraging.  With cardiac failure, fluid builds around the heart.  We treat for that problem as if it were a separate illness. We have had excellent results with that process in many cases that were thought to be hopeless. She is such a stunning eagle and a great gentle soul. She needs some positive energy tonight.



#007 with Katie, Albert and Stacy after a blood test.




We admitted an American Kestrel with starvation today. The weather can be an issue for birds that have remained in the northwoods during the winter season. This winter has been a gentle one at least for us in WI. Several species have remained further north than normal. Cold snaps catch then unaware and causes nasty surprises. I think our new patient will be fine with a little food and a warm place to finish out the winter.

We had lots of calls today most with questions about wildlife in their woods. A sweet elderly lady found a Chukar by her bird feeder. We don't have Chukar here in WI except those that have escaped from game farms.  We sent a volunteer to see if he could give her a hand catching up the little guy. 

No news on any of the eagles reported in past days with trouble. We have a fresh snow today and wind so maybe tomorrow will be a better day to find them. Lets keep our hopes up they are found in time.

I continue with the end of year reports.  They are due on January 31st.  After that I will be able to hold a normal conversation.  Paperwork is my least favorite part of this work and yet there is lots of it. :(

Have a wonderful tomorrow everyone.

Marge Gibson











Patient Update and a Huge 'Thank You'!

It's a busy time of year here at REGI, even without all of the babies of summer. We haven't had time for an update for quite some time so I wanted to share with you just a few of our most recent patients.

Photo above: This Bald Eagle was admitted into our clinic with very high levels of lead in his blood. He has undergone treatments for lead poisoning and is still in critical condition. Each treatment for lead poisoning is a couple thousand dollars and recovery is not guaranteed. We hope that he continues to fight for his life; though he is weak from his illness, he has proven to be a fighter. It is likely that he picked up lead from a deer carcass left from the latest gun-deer season. Cases like this lead poisoned Bald Eagle would be virtually non-existent if hunters and fishermen made the simple switch to lead-free ammunition and fishing tackle.

Photo above: This male American Kestrel was suffering from starvation. His weight has improved a bit and his outlook is very good. He is currently in a flight enclosure regaining muscles necessary for flying and continuing to improve his weight.

Photo above: Two young Trumpeter Swans, also called cygnets, are keeping each other company. The cygnet on the left was admitted in very low weight with a high parasite load. Once the parasites were eliminated we put her in with a "buddy". Trumpeter Swans are highly social birds during non-breeding seasons and benefit from contact with others of the same species. It was amazing to watch her improve once she had some company. She went from not eating at all to eating well on her own. She has some weight to gain yet, but she is showing improvement.

Photo above: An adult Trumpeter Swan, admitted with a wing injury, and a cygnet Trumpeter Swan, suffering from starvation, recover together. Like the two swans above, they find comfort in company. Seeing these two birds side by side provides a great example of the differences between adults and cygnets. Adult trumpeter swans are a beautiful snow white color with a black bill and feet. Juvenile, or cygnet, trumpeter swans are a sooty gray color for their first year with a pinkish bill until their first winter. This cygnet is still gray but his bill has already turned black.

Photo above: This female American Goldfinch was admitted with wounds from a cat bite. She has been treated for the bites and is currently recovering. It is so important for people to keep their cats indoors all year long because protected song birds suffer when the cats invariably hunt them.

Thank You!

It is now near the end of the year and we wanted to take time to thank all of our supporters that have helped us out this year and in the past. Because the birds cannot speak for themselves I will help assist them in thanking you. Thank you to everyone who has donated funds, food (including deer hearts!), and supplies; volunteered time; transported injured birds; and anything else that I may have missed. You have helped us in a huge way! You have provided many sick and injured birds a new lease on life. We truly could not continue without the help of all of you!

You are the wind beneath our wings!

Thank you all!

Karissa Mohr

REGI Wildlife Educator

Sandhill Crane Colt Improving, American Kestrel Chicks, Hairy Woodpecker and Rose-breasted Grosbeak Admitted

The Sandhill Crane colt admitted two day ago is doing great. It turns out its right leg was fractured. We put a very lightweight cast on the leg. In this way the young crane can heal and continue to exercise which is vital for crane colts.



( Photo: The Sandhill Crane colt adjusted better than we anticipated. The youngster seems not to even notice the odd thing on his leg. That is great news for everyone. )



( Photo: Sandhill Crane colt has a cast put on for a leg fracture. The unflappable colt was calm and relaxed throughout the procedure, much to our delight.)



( Photo: Lance Holm tube feeds the crane colt after the procedure while Intern Karrisa M. looks on. )



( Photo: Intern Jen R. exercises the Sandhill Crane colt in the 110' flight building hall. Crane colts grow very rapidly. If the youngster were not exercised often, its leg muscles would not grow properly. Within a very short time the young bird would not be able to stand or walk...ever. The colt is hard to see but it is on Jen's left.)

The prognosis for the Sandhill Crane colt is excellent. We hope to reunite it with its parents if that options seems the best in a few weeks. Meanwhile, he will be walked even with the cast about 2 miles per day at a minimum. Crane chicks make us a very fit crew! :)



( Photo: Intern Robert P. and I drove to Merrill to rescue four tiny American Kestrels . Their home was destroyed when a tree was cut down. )

Late yesterday we took a call from a landowner. She found four tiny American Kestrels on the ground after a dead tree was chopped down. Spring is not a great time to trim trees or limbs, since many animals rely on them for their homes.

American Kestrels are the smallest member of the falcon family. The little ones have internal injures now so are fed a pre-digested diet, but soon will be downing several mice each daily. The landowners will notice many more mice on their property this summer without the family of falcons, that is for sure.



( Photo: American Kestrel chicks are beautiful, covered with soft white down.)



( Photo: This young Hairy Woodpecker was in the wrong place at the wrong time when a dog found him. He sustained some serious injuries but gratefully was found and is recovering.)



( Photo: A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was admitted this afternoon. He was likely hit by a car. Intern Jen R. looks on. His prognosis is good.)

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. We will be releasing a rehabilitated adult Bald Eagle in celebration of our troops and with the LeRoyer Hospice Program. The eagle release will be at the REGI compound after the memorial celebration at the LeRoyer Memory Walkway behind Antigo Memorial Hospital. We hope many of you can come and see our magnificent Bald Eagle go back to the wild and help us honor our loved ones and those that have given their lives for our country. We expect the release will be @2:30 p.m.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

American Kestrel with a Wing Fracture Admitted, Lots of Patient Updates, UWSP Continuing Education LIFE Tour,

It has been another busy day. I have a feeling that will be our daily mantra until fall.



( Photo: This adult male American Kestrel was admitted from Mead Wildlife Area with a wing fracture.)

We admitted a beautiful American Kestrel with a wing fracture. He was also very low in weight. That usually means he broke his wing at least a few days before he was rescued. He'd been without food for that period of time. Wildlife lives on a narrow margin. Everything has to be perfect for them to survive. The good news is that since he was admitted, he has gained 20 grams. We expect he will make a full recovery and be able to get back home and back to the business of having a family.



( Photo: Our passerine ( songbird) incubators now contain 22 babies. Gratefully, all continue to thrive and grow including the tiny robins from a few days ago.)



( Photo: Some of our newest patients sharing a common nursery bowl in the incubator. they are House Finches and American Robins.)

Passerine nestlings continue to come in. I wish they had all been discovered in an accident or storm which took their nest down. I say I wish, because sadly this week we have had many come into rehab by landowners or renters who found the nest annoying and just HAD to take it down. It was only later they found themselves with nests of needy baby birds. All of these birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is against federal law to tamper with or destroy a nest, eggs or young of native wild birds. Many people seem unaware all indigenous birds, with the exception of House Sparrows and European Starlings (both are from Europe), are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This might be a good topic for a blog someday when I have time.



( Photo: Alberta examines the Broad-winged Hawk admitted two weeks ago with a wing fracture.)

The Broad-winged Hawk admitted two weeks ago has healed beautifully. Birds' bones are hollow and therefore heal more quickly than those of mammals. Today his wrap came off, and he was put into a small flight to begin his physical therapy looking toward release. Patients are first put in small flights and then in a few days he will go to a larger flight where he will be able to fully regain his muscle strength. Broad-winged Hawks are all business and have zero sense of humor. You can see from his expression he wishes he was anywhere but in rehab.



( Photo: The Broad-winged Hawk as Alberta released him to the recovery flight.)



( Photo: The UWSP LIFE Group ( Learning is Forever) toured REGI with plenty of umbrellas and enthusiasm during a heavy rainstorm. Notice our smiling albeit wet staff and birds (rt.) were excited with this terrific group as well. )

We had a wonderful tour the other day with the LIFE group from Stevens Point. The group is a UWSP Continuing Education Program, UWSP LIFE (Learning Is ForEver).
The day was less than perfect for a tour, but the hardy souls decided to brave the rain to see the birds and REGI. What troupers! The weather was nothing a bevy of bumbershoots couldn't fix. Thanks, everyone, for your patience and enthusiasm even on a wet day.



( Photo: Education Director Steve Fisher, with our Golden Eagle, braves the rain. )

Off to feed nestling passerine babies again. It is a full-time-job-plus. We are in serious need of volunteers to help with repairs on the facility and SO many other things. Please call if you have some time to offer. 715-623-4015 (clinic)

Have a wonderful tomorrow everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010